Ginko Okazaki: a Japanese American Novelist in an Age of Ultranationalism

Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI) - The City University of New York (CUNY)

This panel presentation introduces an ongoing project to recover and translate the Japanese-language writings of the Issei novelist and teacher Ginko Okazaki (pen-name of Masue Shinozaki Orimo, 1895-1973). Ginko was part of a cohort of highly educated Japanese women who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Alan K. Ota, nephew of Ginkos daughter, will present on how the study of Ginkos life and work may offer insights to aspiring artists, activists, and teachers as they confront new forms of oppression and ultranationalism in the 21st century. Andrew Way Leong (UC Berkeley) will present on the ongoing work involved in bringing Ginkos work to a contemporary English-language readership. Talk will feature a pre-recorded reading by Sophie Oda, great-granddaughter of Ginko Ozaki, of a short excerpt from Soil of Salinas.